Euronews

Euronews correspondent Mohammed Shaikhibrahim was one of the first journalists to enter Rabaa al-Adawiya square in Cairo as it was being cleared by security forces.

He says the scene showed the aftermath of a massacre. Inside the square Muslim brotherhood supporters surveyed the wreckage of their camp. There were pools of blood on the ground and dead bodies are being carried out.

Protesters had broken up rubble to use as weapons against the security forces.

One protester described how the military cleared the camp: “Planes have overflown the zone and have bombarded us, the snipers all around have shot us with live bullets,” he said.

Security forces with armoured bulldozers stormed the square early in the morning. The space had been occupied by supporters of former president Mohammed Morsi, who was overthrown by the military in early July.

The health ministry says 149 people have been killed and 1,400 injured. The Muslim Brotherhood puts the number of dead at 2,000.

As our correspondent was recording his report, he and his cameraman came under fire from snipers. Mohammed Shaikhibrahim said: “The Muslim brotherhood supporters are here and continue to defend themselves on the Rabaa al-Adawiya square where the clashes last for several hours and as you can see the bullets are coming from everywhere on this square.”

Our correspondent tells us that the tear gas used by the military is far stronger than usual.